[Federal Register: May 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 102)]
[Notices]
[Page 31697-31698]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my03-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP03-32-000]
Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Availability of the
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed White River Replacement
Project
May 20, 2003.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the
natural gas pipeline facilities by Northwest Pipeline Corporation
(Northwest) in the above-referenced docket.
The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment.
The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of:
[sbull] Abandonment by removal of approximately 2,100 feet of
parallel 26-inch- and 30-inch-diameter pipelines.
[sbull] Abandonment in place of approximately 1,100 feet of
parallel 26-inch- and 30-inch-diameter pipelines.
[sbull] Retention of approximately 1,100 feet of parallel 26-inch-
and 30-inch-diameter pipelines for continued service to the Enumclaw
Meter Station.
[sbull] Removal of a temporary riprap stabilization structure, 380
feet of sheet piling from the south floodplain, and a 665-foot-long
previously abandoned 26-inch-diameter pipeline from the White River
channel.
[sbull] Installation of 1,500 to 1,540 feet of 26-inch- and 30-
inch-diameter replacement pipelines in the south floodplain using
conventional construction.
[sbull] Installation of approximately 3,200 feet of 26-inch- and
30-inch-diameter replacement pipelines with 2 parallel HDDs traversing
underneath the floodplain and White River channel, the slope north of
the White River, State Route 164, and Cameron Park.
[sbull] Installation of 300 to 340 feet of 26-inch- and 30-inch-
diameter replacement pipelines north of Cameron Park using conventional
construction.
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a more permanent
solution for improved pipeline safety and reliability while restoring
the natural environment of the White River and its floodplain at this
crossing. Recent highwater events have increased the risk
[[Page 31698]]
of exposure to the 26-inch- and 30-inch-diameter pipelines underneath
the White River and along its south and north banks. Northwest
installed a temporary riprap stabilization structure on the north
riverbank in 1996 to protect its existing pipelines.
The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public
inspection at:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference and Files
Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC
20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers,
and parties to this proceeding.
Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is
important that we receive your comments before the date specified
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
[sbull] Send two copies of your comments to:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
[sbull] Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the Gas
Branch 2, PJ11.2.
[sbull] Reference Docket No. CP03-032-000; and
[sbull] Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 18, 2003.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of this project. However, the Commission
strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions
or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under
the ``e-Filing'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can
file comments you will need to create a free account which can be
created by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). \1\ Only intervenors have the right to
seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your comments considered.
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the FERRIS link.
Click on the FERRIS link, enter the docket number excluding the last
three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with FERRIS, the FERRIS helpline
can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659 or at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The FERRIS link on the FERC Internet Web
site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you too keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go tohttp://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-13207 Filed 5-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P